Sony unveils the a7Riv - 61MP 35mm BSI sensor, 10FPS max. burst, ergo improvements

[D13H4RD]

 

Well, this one was kinda unexpected.

 

Around 2 years after the a7Riii was unveiled, Sony has released its successor, the a7Riv, boasting improvements such as improved weather sealing, a higher-resolution EVF, small ergonomic improvements and a new 61MP BSI sensor.

Quote

Sony claims that the a7R IV sets “new standards” in image quality and operability. The BSI CMOS image sensor inside is brand new, making it the first true sensor update for Sony alpha cameras since 2015, and allowing Sony to reach a reported 15 stops of dynamic range on this chip. And, just case 61MP isn’t enough, you can use an evolution of the Sony’s built-in sensor-shift multi-shot mode to create 240MP image files from 16 separate pixel-shifted images containing a total of 963.2 million pixels of data. Even when you crop down to APS-C mode, you can still capture 26MP of resolution, making it the “highest resolution APS-C capture today,” according to Sony.

 

The autofocus system provides 567 phase-detection AF points covering 74% of the image area in full-frame mode. In APS-C mode, 325 of those points cover almost the entire APS-C area, providing more than 100% AF coverage vertically and nearly 100% coverage horizontally. And the same time Real-Time Tracking AF, Real-Time Eye AF and Animal Eye-AF found in the a9 is being included in the a7r IV, ensuring extreme accuracy if Sony’s previous cameras are anything to judge by.

Despite the resolution bump, the camera keeps its maximum burst framerate of 10FPS from the a7Riii, making it more useful in situations where bursts may be beneficial.

 

Whilst it is marketed as being a stills-oriented camera, the video side is quite decent as well.

Quote

On the video front, the Sony a7R IV can capture full-frame 4K oversampled from 6K, offering full-pixel readout in Super 35mm crop or a pixel-binned signal from the full width of the sensor. The camera will also be the very first Sony camera to offer Real-Time Eye AF in video, an announcement the received a lot of approval from the folks in the crowd at Sony’s event.

Sony made much of breaking new ground in terms of audio recording as well. The company introduced a new digital audio interface that keeps the signal digital from microphone to camera. This is possible thanks to the new ECM-B1M shotgun microphone that features a built-in Analog to Digital converter, and the brand new multi-interface hot shoe found only on the Sony a7R IV.

Other improvements include a deeper, taller grip, an upgraded EVF with the same resolution as that on the Panasonic LUMIX S1 line and Fuijifilm GFX100, upgraded weather sealing and dual UHS-II card slots (FINALLY).

The a7Riv will be available on September but pre-orders are currently underway as of this time. The camera will retail for $3500, with a new battery grip retailing for $400, alongside a $350 shotgun mic with a built-in ADC and a $600 microphone kit.

 

Source: PetaPixel

 

Opinions

Spoiler

FUCK ME, this came right outta nowhere. I was expecting the a7Siii or the often-rumored (and now vaporware) high-end crop body, but instead, we got this.

 

Make no mistake, there's a shit ton of good shit in there. The new sensor looks to be mighty capable and the other tech such as the autofocus calculations and the AI-based tech inside are mighty drool-worthy. I just don't think many asked for an a7R body so soon,especially since the a7Riii is still a very capable body and there are people who want an a7Siii or that APS-C body. Some improvements in the a7Riv are kind of funny though, like having dual UHS-II slots, something that the Fujifilm X-T2 had since 2016.

 

[SeraphicWings]

61 megapixel, you must be a wildlife photographer or someone who crops picture for a living to actually use all of this

But then again, it is a new sensor, my A7R3's sensor is actually 4 years old despite the camera being 2 

Can't wait to try this beast in hand

[D13H4RD]

1 minute ago, SeraphicWings said:

61 megapixel, you must be a wildlife photographer or someone who crops picture for a living to actually use all of this

But then again, it is a new sensor, my A7R3's sensor is actually 4 years old despite the camera being 2 

Can't wait to try this beast in hand

Yeah, they never changed the sensor with the a7Riii. It was mostly a QoL improvement, especially the new Z batteries.

 

Still plenty capable though.

[Stroal]

It's insane to me that Sony is killing this market right now. I use to be a Canon guy, but after I sold off my production company, I moved towards Sony for everything. The 6300 is still unmatched by anything Canon or Nikon has made, despite it being 3 years old.  

 

I'm glad to see Sony improving, despite having the market cornered. 

[SeraphicWings]

3 minutes ago, D13H4RD said:

Yeah, they never changed the sensor with the a7Riii. It was mostly a QoL improvement, especially the new Z batteries.

 

Still plenty capable though.

Still impressed me how far ahead of time that R2 sensor was, my R3 is going to last a long time 

[D13H4RD]

Just now, SeraphicWings said:

Still impressed me how far ahead of time that R2 sensor was, my R3 is going to last a long time 

Meanwhile, I'm about to drop down hard on some new glass for my Fujifilm X-T3 that I use for events.

[SeraphicWings]

1 minute ago, D13H4RD said:

Meanwhile, I'm about to drop down hard on some new glass for my Fujifilm X-T3 that I use for events.

I actually like the XT-3, it would have been my choice if the A7III was not released first

[D13H4RD]

Just now, SeraphicWings said:

I actually like the XT-3, it would have been my choice if the A7III was not released first

It's a great body. I enjoyed using it, but I really do have to get the 50-140 f/2.8 for event work.

[williamcll]

A bit too expensive for my tastes.

[D13H4RD]

1 minute ago, williamcll said:

A bit too expensive for my tastes.

a7iii

 

<$2000

[CarlBar]

Anyone think brandon is probably wishing he could find an excuse to get one of these.

[D13H4RD]

22 minutes ago, CarlBar said:

Anyone think brandon is probably wishing he could find an excuse to get one of these.

I think he’d drool more over an a7Siii tbh

[Commodus]

1 hour ago, williamcll said:

A bit too expensive for my tastes.

It's a work tool, mind you -- if you're the sort who could genuinely see value from 61-megapixel photos at work, $3,500 (plus lenses) is a small price to pay.

[YellowJersey]

Definitely came out of the blue. I've got the A7rIII that I'm quite happy with. It's only been two years since the A7rIII came out. Sony's really moving at a blistering pace. But I don't think we'll see the IV being adopted as widely or quickly as the III. The III solved most of the gripes about the A7 line, like bigger battery and dual card slots. The resolution lovers will love the IV, but I see it being a more specialised tool.

[BuckGup]

3 hours ago, YellowJersey said:

Definitely came out of the blue. 

Not really people have been predicting a release since January. People speculated the A7SIII and not this so I would assume an August or September launch for the A7SIII

[D13H4RD]

7 hours ago, Commodus said:

It's a work tool, mind you -- if you're the sort who could genuinely see value from 61-megapixel photos at work, $3,500 (plus lenses) is a small price to pay.

You’d cover the cost of it pretty quickly if you’re the type of person who does this sort of thing and requires a body with such a high resolution 

[badreg]

GG to Canon and Nikon. I am starting to run out of excuses to not adapt my 17mm and 24mm TS-E's and jump ship.

[SeraphicWings]

4 minutes ago, badreg said:

GG to Canon and Nikon. I am starting to run out of excuses to not adapt my 17mm and 24mm TS-E's and jump ship.

TS-E lens are MF only anyway, just get an adapter and you are good to go

[Mihle]

11 hours ago, CarlBar said:

Anyone think brandon is probably wishing he could find an excuse to get one of these.

For professional work I don't kbow,

But for personal photography he seems like he likes Fuji a lot, so I doubt it.

 

Fuji is good tho.

[badreg]

36 minutes ago, SeraphicWings said:

TS-E lens are MF only anyway, just get an adapter and you are good to go

The corner performance of TS-E lenses is very poor with an adapter compared to native performance on a 5DSr, so there's no performance to be gained by moving to a current A7R3. It's not a no-brainer decision even if everything about the A7R4 turns out to be true, but it's certainly a huge kick in that direction.

 

A lot will depend on what Canon comes up with in the next 12-18 months, or if Fuji keeps innovating on their medium format offerings.